Improvement in the manufacture of split needles



C. H. PALMER. improvement in the Manufacture of Spiit-Nee di'e-s.

Patented May 2187] fizz/en For: i

XQmXm k M ifisgm r 0!. Mom immaumm cal/x (OSBMIVIF M06555) iilhiihh $tatzr CHARLES H. PALMER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent No. 114,332, dated May 2, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPLIT NEEDLES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part oflthe semi.

To all whom it may concern:

. as it descends until it rests easily in an eye or about the ordinary size in the proper position near the point. The metal is hookedvover a little above the eye, so that the thread on being drawn upward by the tension is not likely to be drawn up again into the split.

My invention relates to the means of producing the split. The method heretofore was to sawa crooked keri. The. kert' or saw-track was straight for the greater portion of the distance down the shank, but near the eye it was bent to one side. This operation involved a necessity for peculiar saws and machinery.

I avoid all the difficulties by first cracking the use die, then sawing it with a straight kerf, and afterward straightening the needle again, which latter operation of necessity bends the kerf or split. By this means I am enabled to use circular saws, and can conduct the operation with a degree of simplicity and certainty not before attainable. It renders easy and highly practicable what was before a work of great ninety and difficulty. The proper bending and straightening againinvolve no ditficulty with suitable appliances. v Theibllowing is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention. The accompanying drawing forms apart of this specification, and represents the several parts greatly magnified or increased in size.

Figure 1 is a view of the needle when finished, all the viewsbeing greatly magnified;

Figure 2 shows the shank or main body in the bending-grooves in the dies, which, after pressing it, are just opening to release it;

Figure 3 shows the shank thus bent after it has been sawn. The saw-kerf is straight; Figure 4 shows the shank after it has been introduced into the grooves in the same dies or other dies for again straightening the metal. The dies are just closing upon it to straighten it; and

Figure 5 shows the shank after it has been thus straightened ready to have the eye drilled, and thus to attain, .with the aid of the milling and. other treatment, at proper stages, as will be understood, the fully perfect condition.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring to fig. 1, which represents the finished needle- A A is the branching or bifurcated stout portion which forms the root of the needle, and by which it is firmly secured in the needle-bar by ordinary or any suitable means.

The space B between these bifurcations serves to. receive freely the thread in threading the needle, to allow it to be drawn down in the split 11, which extends the whole length of the shaft or shank A, which forms the body of the needle.

The split 12, bending to one side near the point 0,

leads into the eye E on one side, as represented.

Having ascertained exactly the amount of bending to one side w rich is desired in this saw-kerf or split, I produce two dies adapted to receive the needle between them'and to give it an exactly corresponding bend to one sidethat is to say, the dies are adapted to bend the whole body of the needle to one side and to make it return again to the central line of the shank before reaching the point. This isetfeoted by giving to one die, M, a rounded protuberance, m, and:

giving to the other die, N, a correspoudiugly-roundcd recess, a.

r The needle-blank is placed between the dies Maud N, and the dies, being pressed forcibly together by a cam or other suitable mechanism, produce in the needle the bend shown at a in fig. 3.

In order to allow for the elasticity of the steel, which is liable to retain a less degree of bend than is imparted to it by the dies, I ascertain carefully what amount of excess in the projection in and in the recess n is necessary over that which it is desired that the eedle-blank shall retain after the treatment therein, and in the manufacture ot the dies carefully allow for this condition.

The needles, properly annealed and bent in this manner, are afterward subjected to sawing by circular or other saws, and a thin straight kerf is run down the shank from the opening B. Atv the point a this straight kerf necessarily approaches the inside of the curve of the needle. I prefer that it shall extend a little beyond this point; but, however that may be, the end of the kert must be finished and the metal adjacent entirely removed by the drilling.

Now, having properly kerfed and split the blank, the operation of straightening is performed in the same ,or another set of dies, taking care to avoid placing the blank in the portion in and it, and treating it solely in the straight portion. In case the elasticity of the metal shall be found to require it I propose to eii'ect the straightening in dies specially prepared, which shall have very slight swellsaud recesses placed opposite to those in the dies M N. In other words, the

or both sides before the splitting'is effect-ed. It is desirable, also, to form the blank with an oval or flattened sectio n inprder that the needle may be pro i'erly conditioned when finished; but that I' have made the snbjectnnatter of another application for patent of even date herewith.

My present invention greatly simplifies the production of "the proper form of split, and tends to greatly cheapen this highly-useful style of needle. Thelnee- (lies produced by this method are very exactly uniform.

I claim as myinvention- The within-described method of forming the crooked split that is to say, the bending of the blank, sawing a straight kerfiand the subsequent --straightening-of the blank so as to give the proper bend or crook to the split, all substantially as herein set forth.'

' OHARLES H. PALMER,

Witnesses:

THOMAS D. STETSON, G. O. Lrvmes. 

